Palestinians participate in a rally in the city of Jenin, the occupied West Bank, on February 9, 2022, to condemn the targeted killing of three Palestinian fighters in broad daylight by Israeli military forces. (Photo by Safa news agency)

Ramallah, February 10 (RHC)-- Israeli military forces have attacked and injured Palestinians holding rallies in the streets of the occupied West Bank to condemn the fatal shooting of three young Palestinian men by Israeli troops during an operation in the city of Nablus.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society announced in a statement that one demonstrator was hit by rubber bullets and seven others suffered breathing difficulties due to the inhalation of tear gas, when clashes erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces near the northern entrance of the city of al-Bireh, located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) north of al-Quds, on Wednesday evening.

Moreover, two young Palestinian men were shot and injured during clashes with Israeli forces in Ein al-Sultan refugee camp in the city of Ariha.

Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Palestinian WAFA news agency that skirmishes broke out between Palestinian residents and Israeli soldiers stationed in the vicinity of the camp to provide protection for settlers visiting a nearby synagogue.

Israeli forces fired live rounds, tear gas canisters and stun grenades to disperse the protesting crowd, who burnt tires in return to keep them away from the site.  Local sources said two young men were shot and injured by live ammunition, and were transferred to hospital for medical treatment.

Several others were treated at the scene for chest tightness, coughing and a choking sensation, as they had been exposed to tear gas fired by Israeli forces.

The protests came as a "day of anger" and general strikes were being observed across the West Bank, including the cities of Ramallah, Nablus and Tulkarm, on Wednesday. Several Palestinian factions called for mass protests as well.

The killing of the three Palestinian resistance fighters on Tuesday was widely condemned by Palestinians as a “field execution” and an “assassination.”   The targeted military operation took place in the heart of Nablus in broad daylight.  Israeli soldiers used two private vehicles with Palestinian plates to enter al-Makhfiya neighborhood of the northern West Bank city to reach their target. 

They then got out and surrounded the vehicle carrying the Palestinian men, and fired at it intensely from point-blank range.